The third prosecution witness within the trial of former Nationwide Indicators Bureau (NSB) Director-Normal Kwabena Addo-Boahene has informed the Accra Excessive Court docket that the help she rendered was a part of her duties as a banker and that her involvement in transactions in accounts associated to the accused was lawful.
Mildred Donkor, a former director of Benefit Options Restricted, stated she assisted Adu-Boahene in her official capability along with her account transactions and that her actions had been authorized.
“The help I supplied was authorized as a part of banking operations,” she stated in court docket at the moment (June 9) throughout cross-examination by the accused’s lawyer, Samuel Atta Akiya.
The witness was answering questions concerning transactions made in accounts belonging to BNC Communications Bureau Restricted, Benefit Options Restricted and associated entities.
pre-signed verify
Ms. Donkor additionally described conditions wherein pre-signed checkbooks had been utilized in some accounts.
She stated the association was needed as a result of it was typically tough to acquire the signatures of Adu Boahene and his spouse every time a transaction was wanted.
Witnesses additionally stated that lots of the transaction requests had been handled as pressing.
“Pre-signed verify books had been ready as a result of at any time when there was a transaction, it was tough to get Mr. Adu Boahene and his spouse to signal these checks. The withdrawal directions had been most frequently termed as pressing,” she stated.
Nevertheless, when her lawyer prompt utilizing pre-signed checks to withdraw funds from varied accounts, she disagreed.
When requested if she personally used the cash withdrawn from her account, she replied: “No, sir.”
Withdrawal quantity
Through the proceedings, Atta Akiya informed witnesses that withdrawal directions contained in emails in court docket confirmed that an individual named Frank Annan had withdrawn CHF17.6 million from some accounts.
“Lord, I don’t perceive,” the witness answered.
Moreover, when it was prompt that the financial institution statements confirmed that Mr. Anane had withdrawn a complete of CHF 18.33 million from the accounts of BNC Communications Bureau Restricted, Benefit Options Restricted and their subsidiaries, Ms. Donkor once more replied: “I do not know, my lord.”
Witnesses had the identical response when the lawyer prompt that withdrawals from varied accounts by Mr Annan, Mr Edith and Mr Gerard Osei Tutu amounted to GHF59.13 million.
allowed e mail
Earlier, proceedings had been halted after Deputy Lawyer Normal Justice Sreem Sai objected to the protection’s makes an attempt to provide quite a lot of emails concerning withdrawal and fee directions.
Dr. Sreem Sai argued that the fees in court docket centered on allegations of misappropriation of state funds by transfers to accounts managed by the defendants and the misappropriation of emails associated to transactions that occurred after the funds had already been disbursed to these accounts.
“The query is how the fee directions within the e mail are associated to the cost of stealing public funds,” he submitted.
Nevertheless, Atta Akiya maintained that the e-mail was associated to the defence.
He argued that the paperwork present the motion of funds by varied accounts and help the protection’s argument that the prosecution’s concept of theft is untenable.
The court docket overruled the objection and admitted the emails as proof.
Price
Adu-Boahene has pleaded not responsible to costs together with fraud by false pretenses, deliberately inflicting monetary loss to the state, utilizing public workplace for private achieve, and acquiring public property by false pretenses.
His spouse is charged with conspiracy to make use of public workplace for private achieve, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering.
